Students on stage from Colburn’s Zipper Hall to Carnegie Hall
San Diego cello lessons, from first notes to center stage.
Nearly 20 years of tested teaching for kids chasing a competition win, kids who just want to love playing, and adults brave enough to start.
or call 818-970-1949
Where Daniel’s students have performed, placed and studied
- Carnegie Hall (upcoming)
- Zipper Hall at Colburn
- All-Southern Honor Orchestra
- SDUSD Honors Orchestra
- Principal chairs, local youth orchestras
- Soloists with orchestra
- Colburn Music Academy
- Aspen Music Festival
Ambitious when you are. And nobody gets the love of music beaten out of them.
The same teacher who prepares students for competitions and conservatory also knows that for most people, the sweet spot is a lifelong relationship with music.
Daniel Grab
What families and students say
He taught my son, Ernie Jr., for four years, and in that time Ernie made unbelievable advances as a cellist and as an overall musician… Daniel Grab’s teaching compares quite favorably.
“Daniel's teaching style is very adaptive. He sets achievable goals… During her time with him, she achieved first chair in the top orchestra at her middle school.”
“I played the cello for barely a couple years as a teenager… Daniel is not only helping me re-learn that language, his guidance is also reinforcing my confidence and my love for this incredible instrument.”
How getting started works
Three steps, and the first one takes a minute.
Send a short note
Use the form or call 818-970-1949. Tell Daniel who’s learning, what they’ve played so far, and what they’re hoping for.
Have a first lesson
Daniel hears where you are, talks through goals, and maps out what the first few months look like.
Build week by week
Technique, scales and etudes, repertoire you’ll enjoy, and a recital when you’re ready. Never before.
Meet Daniel Grab
A working cellist with highly developed, tested ideas about teaching technique. Daniel has subbed with the San Diego Symphony, performed as a soloist with orchestras across Southern California, and played chamber music with Midori.
- Nearly 20 years teachingBeginners through college-level players, every age
- USC, CSUN and ENCOREStudied with Richard Aaron, Ronald Leonard, Eleonore Schoenfeld and more
- Soloist with orchestraSan Fernando Valley Symphony, Poway Symphony, Cabrillo Chamber Orchestra
- On stage abroadInternational chamber music performances in Burgos, Spain
Hear the teacher play
The best way to judge a teacher’s ear is to listen. Here’s Daniel in Fauré’s Après un rêve. More recordings, from Grieg to a live Vivaldi double concerto in Spain, are on the listening page.
Watch and listenCello lessons across North County San Diego
Daniel teaches students throughout coastal and inland North County, and online for students anywhere.
- Carlsbad
- Encinitas
- Vista
- San Marcos
- Escondido
- Rancho Santa Fe
- La Jolla
- Onlineanywhere
Questions parents and players ask
Something else on your mind? Call or text 818-970-1949.
Who does Daniel teach?
Three kinds of students: advanced and pre-college players aiming for competitions, solos with orchestra and college music programs; kids and teens who want to enjoy music and feel at home in orchestra; and adults, many of them starting from scratch.
Can lessons help my child pass an audition for SDYS, CYO or MMYO?
Yes. Preparing for youth orchestra auditions such as San Diego Youth Symphony (SDYS), CYO and Mainly Mozart Youth Orchestra (MMYO) is a regular part of the studio, as are All-Southern and SDUSD Honors Orchestra auditions.
Does Daniel prepare students for competitions and college auditions?
Yes. His students have won competitions, performed as soloists with orchestra, held principal chairs in local youth orchestras, played at Colburn’s Zipper Hall, and earned scholarships to programs including Colburn Music Academy and Aspen Music Festival.
Are there recitals?
Yes, for kids and adults alike. Students perform when they’re ready, and Daniel never puts anyone on stage who isn’t. Parents of students sometimes take lessons and play on recitals too.
Do I need my own cello?
You’ll want to rent one. Daniel will point you to a good local shop and help you get the right size, along with a tuner, a metronome and a decent chair to practice on.
Where are lessons held? Do you teach online?
Daniel teaches across North County San Diego, including Carlsbad, Encinitas, Vista, San Marcos, Escondido, Rancho Santa Fe and La Jolla, and online. Tell him your city in the request form and he’ll confirm the best setup.
How much do lessons cost?
Rates depend on lesson length and format. Send a request or call 818-970-1949 and Daniel will share current rates and open times.
Book a first lesson with Daniel
Tell Daniel a little about who’s learning. He reads every note himself and will reply to set up a first lesson that fits your schedule.
- Every goal is welcome. Competitions and college auditions, school orchestra, or simply loving to play.
- Nearly 20 years of teaching, with tested methods for technique from the first bow hold to the concerto.
- In North County San Diego or online, whichever suits your week.
Request a first lesson
Takes about a minute. Fields marked optional can be skipped.